Cysteine

L-Cysteine

Names
IUPAC name Cysteine
Other names 2-Amino-3-sulfhydrylpropanoic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Skeletal formula of L-cysteine

Cysteine (abbreviated as Cys or C)^[1] is an α-amino acid. It has the chemical formula HO₂CCH(NH₂)CH₂SH.

Cysteine is a semi-essential amino acid, which means that humans can make it.^[2] The codons UGU and UGC code for cysteine. The thiol side chain in cysteine often does enzyme reactions as a nucleophile. The thiol oxidises to give the disulfide derivative cystine, which is important in many protein structures. When used as a food additive, cysteine has the E number E920.

References

1. Nomenclature and symbolism for amino acids and peptides (IUPAC-IUB Recommendations 1983). Pure Appl. Chem. 56 (5), 1984: 595–624.
2. "The primary structure of proteins is the amino acid sequence". The Microbial World. University of Wisconsin-Madison Bacteriology Department. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2012.